Buyer Protection Fees UK 2025 + consumer rights

[tulipsorange12]

This appalling decision by eBay to charge buyers for sales from private sellers at a flat rate of 75p and 4% of the sale price means they are actually charging more than the fees that private sellers were paying -  a cynical greed driven motive.  They think people are stupid. Under UK consumer law is it legal to charge an insurance fee for buyer protection? And is it legal to charge that only for sales from private sellers. What do consumer watchdogs make of these plans. How do we complain to eBay? 

[specialk1937]

Whether you are a private seller or a business seller you have a moral
obligation to describe your goods accurately and give good service to the
customer! If I am to draw a distinction between the two I can only say
that after buying off ebay for many years it's pretty much a level playing
field when it comes to who gives the better satisfaction, and I certainly
don't think that those in business are blessed with having better
consciences than anyone else!

[susapric-68]

Nothing to do with morals. You buy from a business seller with no morals and you have DSR and Consumer laws to protect you, you buy from a private seller with no morals and you get laughed at. Nothing to debate

[specialk1937]

Not my experience, I have bought from a private seller and have been
compensated when things go wrong. Nothing to do with morals you say, so
how about integrity then!

[susapric-68]

And? This is not about anything other than the law and what protection you have as a buyer. Unless you think before you buy anything from a business or private seller you should get written letters from the local church from them? BTW what super power do you use to know if a seller has morals and integrity?

[specialk1937]

I only know what life has taught me!

[susapric-68]

Really? I'm 60 years old and have no idea how to tell if it's a good or bad seller just by looking at a listing. You should sell how to do it. I will just stick to laws and protections. Hmm some prince did offer me a bridge in London, a Prince wouldn't rip me off

[specialk1937]

You are only a youngster! I am 88 years old in a couple weeks time and if
you believe life is a learning curve then you still have some way to go,
but then no matter what age you are, you will never know it all and expect
to get it right all the time!

[susapric-68]

Finally some sense, not you won't get it right every time and that's why protection is important. Glad you finally see that

[theelench]

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@susapric-68 wrote:

And? This is not about anything other than the law and what protection you have as a buyer. 

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Which I would say is why judges have the power to interpret the "Letter of the Law" using the "Spirit of the Law".

Companies might try to do things according to the letter of the law, saying they acted 'legally'.  But, as ebay has found to its cost when taken to court in the US,  judges have (several times) found them guilty and fined them heavily for trying to get around "the Spirit" that was intended.

The letter of the law might say one thing but justice needs more than just the sort of inflexible script that CS often uses.

[susapric-68]

Please don't tell me your new legal assault on eBay is all about the Spirit of the Law. That will go down as well as the reports to the CMA that's likely to get the business sellers on private account some nice big fines for passing the fees over to the buyers.

[randybullcow]

Or maybe a pound if flesh nearest the heart,not a penny less, not a penny more?

I like to think of myself as an ethical seller, I try to cost fairly and competitively and if there are any faults on my items I include photos on my listing highlighting the faults so the buyer can make their own choice.

The concept of 'Caveat Emptor' I don't think should apply in this day and age as sellers  should have proper scruples and principles, as should the buyers incidentally!!!

[susapric-68]

Yes i agree, online selling is a big business now so the law should be updated to inc private sellers and give buyers more protection. At this moment you have very little protection from private sellers and most the time you have to try and get your money back in a civil court. No one is saying private sellers are worse than business sellers, just you have more protection at the moment when you buy from them. Buying from a private seller is along the lines as "Sold as seen" but online you can't really inspect it. It's all down to the fact that the law is based on second hand goods from a private buyers not new

[theelench]

"My new legal assault?"

No, just my opinion that differs from your own.  Ebay was taken to court, its defence (more than once) was that it acted within the law.  The judge thought differently.

Some on here did complain to the CMA, asking for the protection of their codes of conduct from what they saw as anti-competitive practice.  Isn't that exactly what you're saying consumers are entitled to do under the law?  Or are you allowed to pick and chose when legal protection should apply?

[susapric-68]

Good luck in your fight against " anti-competitive practice" only you can make sure eBay do away with the FREE listings and FVF. I stand with you

[theelench]

"..my fight..." ?

Again you assume too much and incorrectly.

I did make a complaint to the CMA to add one more to the total and weight to their file.

Rest assured you do NOT stand with me, not even anywhere near me.

[susapric-68]

Ok I stand with the people who complained that only want a level playing field for all

[vinylscot]

Two bald men, fighting over a comb....

[theelench]

Ho, ho, ho,

I'm not quite bald but I thought su ... was a woman 😲

Wrong again it seems 😢

[lolobaby26jm]

I think it is Lithuanian

[svincec]

Err thats why you message a seller asking questions to get answers as to the condition, any faults etc.
Then when you're happy with effectivily further described item you buy or not, and courtesy of ebay messaging you have a record and any of it turns out to be false then 'not as described'.
Of course if you don't think or ask then sure emptor, just refine the caveats.